THE COD TRIBE 



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elongated body is either naked or covered with minute scales embedded in the skin; 

 the lateral line is more or less indistinct; the eyes are of medium size; and the lower 

 jaw is overlapped by the upper. The small and rudimentary pelvic fins are formed 

 of a few rays; conical teeth are present not only in the jaws, but likewise on the 

 palatines and vomer; the gill opening is narrow; and there is neither a barbel nor 

 an air bladder. While the majority of the species (among which is our figured ex- 

 ample) are from the Arctic seas a few are found in the seas surrounding the Antarc- 

 tic extremity of South America. In Spitzbergen and off Behring island the eel-like 

 lycodes is taken at depths of from three hundred and fifty to five hundred fathoms. 



EEL-LIKE LYCODES. 

 (Two-thirds natural size.) 



In the allied genus Gymnelis, which is of especial interest from a geographical point 

 of view on account of one species inhabiting the seas around Greenland, while the 

 second comes from the straits of Magellan, there are no pelvic fins, and the two 

 jaws are of equal length. A third genus, Uronectes, fiom Baffin bay, agrees with 

 the last in the absence of pelvic fins, but differs in that the lower jaw is the longer. 

 Three other genera are respectively represented by species from Panama, Australia, 

 and the straits of Magellan. 



THE COD TRIBE Family 



Equalled only in this respect by the mackerels, flatfish, salmon, and herrings, 

 the cod tribe form a family of the utmost importance from a commercial point of 

 view, and therefore demand a somewhat detailed notice. They are specially char- 

 acterized by the pelvic fins being generally composed of several rays; and by the 

 caudal being either free, or, if united with the median fins, by the first dorsal being 

 divided into two moieties. More or less elongate and subcylindrical in form, the 



